KSS

=Interoperability between Revit Architecture, IES and 3ds Max =

Focus: Daylighting
AE 597F: Virtual Facility Prototyping

Team Members:
Kaustav Gupta Sarah Klinetob Suhas Bambardekar



=Project Overview=

Visualization in Architecture is an important aspect of design process. It's a crucial tool for communicating the design ideas and intent to the client and to the various participating trades. At the same time, it aids the architect in understanding and evolving the design ideas in a better way. On the other hand, daylight studies form an essential component of an environmentally conscious design. Daylighting can be studied in various formats, through 2D graphs, textual charts or through 2D overlays on plan. These studies can help identify fenestration strategies to improve daylight or avoid glare. **From an architectural point of view, daylighting has to respond to both qualitative and quantitative aspects, which calls for accurate and photo-realistic rendering at the same time.**

With the currently available tools, visualization and daylighting studies can be combined and viewed at the same time at the very earliest design stages. Thus, a schematic design model can be created in Revit Architecture and then the model can be exported to IES or 3D Studio Max for further visualization and daylighting studies. Each of the above mentioned applications have their own advantages and disadvantages.

A model created in Revit Architecture can now be rendered in Revit to create photo-realistic renderings. However, 3D Studio Max offers an added advantage of flexibility in modifying materials, and can also produce color mapping of illuminance or luminance levels. Additionally, IES Radiance can generate renderings, coupled with intelligent information, related to daylighting levels on the renderings.

Project Description
This project investigates the work flows from Revit Architecture 2008 to IES VE and Radiance, and from Revit Architecture 2008/2009 to 3ds Max 2008/2009 using Mental Ray, Daylight and Pseudo Color Exposure control. The objectives include import/export issues, basic daylight analysis, and rendering options as follows:
 * 1) Use of Radiance for Daylight Analysis in IES 5.8.5.
 * 2) Use of Daylight with Mental Ray visualization in 3ds Max 2008/2009
 * 3) Use of Daylighting and Mental Ray visualization in Revit Architecture 2009 (new)
 * 4) Use of Pseudo Color Exposure control for daylight analysis in 3ds Max 2008/2009

Softwares investigated:

 * [|Autodesk Revit Architecture] (2008, 2009)
 * [|Autodesk 3ds max] (2008,2009)
 * [|IES 5.8.5 with Revit Architecture Toolkit] (build 5.8.5)

//Revit Architecture 2008 to IES 5.8.5//

 * Work Flow
 * Issues Investigated and Observations

References:
Wiki Spaces Autodesk Website (White Papers) Discussion Forums & videos [|Burt Hill] – Dustin M. Eplee (IES workflow) Roger Cuseson,[|Autodesk]: Workshop data (3ds Max workflow) John Herridge, Autodesk: Workshop data (Revit)